Dallas schools, for whatever reason, couldn't get the kids to study hard enough to pass their advanced-placement tests in English, math and science.
In 1990, just 162 kids passed the test.
What to do?
Pep talk? Nah.
Reason? Nah.
Threat? Are you kidding?
Money? Well, of course! What else can get Americans going more than greed, um, riches, um, sort of positive reinforcement?
The schools offered $500 to the students who passed all three advance-placement tests.
The results 9 times as many students, 1,466, count 'em, students passed the tests.
The students not only learned their English, math and science, they also learned that when all else fails to motivate, then buy it.
They tried harder for $500. I wonder what we can get for $400 or $300. Or wait, maybe if the schools raised the ante to $1000 even more will try.
The things we can get kids, people to do for money.
I wonder how much we need to pay to get them to clean their rooms, to hang up the phone, to finish their chores (what's a chore?).
The Dallas schools have stooped to a new low in my book.
What do you think?
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